# NTSB ERA16LA077: Beech A36, N4314S, Myerstown, PA, December 22, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 2015, 17:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Myerstown, PA - Coordinates: 40.352222, -76.329719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3522&lon=-76.3297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 4 serious - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Continental Motors, FAA FSDO, Textron - NTSB case key (mKey): 92483 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92483/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92483 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during climbout due to his distraction with raising the landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the commercial pilot, he conducted a pre-takeoff engine run-up with no anomalies noted. He taxied to the runway and started the takeoff roll; as the airplane reached takeoff speed, the airplane became airborne, and he reached over to raise the landing gear. He said that it "seemed" like he had a loss of engine power, and when he checked the instrument panel, he noticed that the attitude indicator was on a 10 to 15° left bank. He leveled the wings and tried to continue the climb, but the airplane impacted the ground and "bounced" before coming to a stop. Postaccident examination of the engine and its components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that when the pilot reached over to raise the landing gear, his lapse in attention resulted in a loss of control of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 2015, about 1735 eastern standard time, a Beech A36, N4314S, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during climbout near Myerstown, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported at the airport about the time of the accident, and an instrument flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to the pilot, after conducting his preflight inspection he prepared for departure. He noted that a "haze" started to fill around the airport but was not concerned with weather related issues. He conducted a pre-takeoff run up and everything checked out "ok." He taxied to the runway and started the takeoff roll; as the airplane reached take off speed he rotated, got airborne and reached over to raise the landing gear. He said that it "seemed" like he had a loss of engine power and when he checked the instrument panel, he noticed that the attitude indicator was on a 10 to 15 degree left bank. He immediately leveled the wings and kept the yoke "back" to continue the climb. However the airplane impacted the ground and "bounced" before coming to a stop. Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the engine's bottom side sustained impact-related damage that displaced the induction system, fractured the oil sump, and damaged the engine nacelle, all of which precluded a test run. Besides the impact-related damage, no pre-accident anomalies were noted that would have prevented the engine from being able to produce full, rated power. The engine's fuel system components were removed from the aircraft for further examination and testing. The components were tested on production test stands using production specifications. Though the components did not meet production specifications throughout their entire test ranges, they were capable of performing their normal functions adequately and with any differences between the specifications. The observed values can be attributed to normal adjustments that are conducted in the field by maintenance personnel. No pre-accident anomalies were noted with any of the components that would have precluded their ability to perform normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4314S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4314S-2018-03-22), registration cancelled 2018-03-22, S/N E-681, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-681 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 4559.17 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2015, 180 hours before - Departed: 9D4, Myerstown, PA - Destination: PKB, Parkersburg, WV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 9D4, Deck Airport, runway 1/19, 3,786 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: serious; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 914 total, 133 in this make and model, 144 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 3.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 30° at 2 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: MUI, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20151222022759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151222022759A), Dec 22, 2015: Beech A36, Lebanon, PA, Substantial damage. The PIC departed runway 19 at Deck Airport, PA. (9D4), and crashed approximately 1,000 feet east of the south end of the runway. All four occupants on board… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92483. 19.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 16.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.